Attempted Suicide of Henry Matthews's Nephew

[Chris Scott]

I hadnt seen this before. The attempted suicide of Henry Matthews's nephew just over a week after the Kelly murder:

Lloyd's Weekly
18 November 1888

[Mike Covell]

Wow, what an interesting find Chris, I thought the bit about his delirium tremens was quite interesting!

He must have had serious issues to cut his throat, then try and pull the wound wider!

[Chris Scott]

Hi Mike
Thanks for the message
There is no Lumley Matthews as such in the records, and the most likely man to be the one mentioned on grounds of age in the report above is Henry Lumley Matthews, botn in early 1853 in Marylebone. I'll post any further details about him
Chris

[Mike Covell]

Chris, I did find one article about suicide during the period of the Whitechapel murders where a man had stabbed himself 87 times! It was more central though.

The only other suicide I have found so far among my records, is of the lady who lived on Hanbury-street who hung herself, becuase of the Whitechapel Murders!

[Chris Scott]

Henry Lumley Matthews
born 1852

Called to the Bar: 10 May 1876 (Pall Mall Gazette) - Henry Lumley Matthews of Cambridge

Cambridge Record:
Name: Henry Lumley Matthews
College: ST JOHN'S
Born: 12 Nov 1852
Died: 12 Feb 1904
More Information: Adm. pens. at ST JOHN'S, Aug. 3, 1871. [2nd] s. of Henry Williames, gent. [and Emily]. B. Nov. 12, 1852, at Stoke Newington, Middlesex. Bapt. Apr. 13, 1853. School, Charterhouse. Matric Michs. 1871. Adm. at the Middle Temple, Oct. 27, 1870. Called to the Bar, May 10, 1876. Died Feb. 12, 1904.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Chris,

A fascinating find. Shades of Druitt.

If this is the same [Henry] Lumley Matthews, he was called to the bar in 1876 [Law Times, 13th May 1876]—



Died on 12th Feb 1904 [The Times, 21st July 1904]—



And his estate was still in contention in 1909 [The Times, 27th July 1909]—



Regards,

Simon

[Chris Scott]

The Times
21 July 1904

Henry Lumley Matthews, deceased, late of Rosedale, 163 West End Lane, Kilburn, and 33 Oxford Terrace, Hyde Park. Solicitors or other persons having any Will or Deeds or Papers of the above named gentleman, who died on the 12th February, 1904, are requested to communicate with Messrs. Nicol, Son and Jones, 39 Lime Street, London, E.C.

[Chris Scott]

Many thanks Simon
Some very interesting info
I must add the cautionary note in that the article I first posted stated he was only "said to be" nephew of Henry Matthews, Home Secretary, and I have yet to verify this. There was a shorter syndicated version of the attempted suicide story which was widely reported but which ommitted this alleged connection.
The reason I have gone from Henry L is that there were only three men listed with the middle and surnames Lumley Matthews. The other two were were Edward Lumley Matthews, born 1883, and John Lumley Matthews, born 1902. Both these latter can obviously be discounted as being either not born or an infant at the time of the incident.

[robhouse]

Great find Chris... very interesting. Mike, what is the story about the woman who hung herself? I have never seen that before. Can you post the article?

Rob H

[Chris Scott]

In 1861 we find out Henry's parents:
9 Garway Road, Marylebone
Head: Henry W Matthews aged 38 born Montgomeryshire - Landed proprietor
Wife: Emily Matthews aged 32 born Sydney, Australia
Children:
William M aged 10 born Sydney
Henry L aged Marylebone

[Mike Covell]

Great find Chris... very interesting. Mike, what is the story about the woman who hung herself? I have never seen that before. Can you post the article?

Rob H

Hi Rob, just off to pick my little girl up, and I will try and get on later, if not I will post it tomorrow.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Chris,

For Lumley Matthews to be Henry Matthews nephew, his mother must have been one of the latter's brothers. But Henry Matthews only had sisters—

Mary Matthews d. 15th August 1890
Helen Matthews d. 16th July 1894

Mary's children with Julien Francois Bertrand de la Chere were—

• Henri de la Chere d. 1861
• Eugenè Gaston de la Chere
• Marie Sophie de la Chere
• Winifred Berthe de la Chere
• Alice de la Chere

Helen Matthews was a nun.

So it looks like the alleged connection to the Home Secretary cannot be true.

Regards,

Simon

[Chris Scott]

Hi Simon
I had come to the same conclusion but by a different route!
As Lumley shared the same surname as his alleged uncle, Henry Matthews, then any connection would have to have been through the male line. Any sister of the Home Secretary, on marrying, would have changed her surname, unless by some remote chance she also married a Matthews.
If there were any truth then this Lumley would have to be the son of a brother of the Home Secretary. However, when I found out that Lumley's father (if my identification is correct) was also named Henry, and it would seem highly unlikely to have two siblings with the same forename, I thought the claimed kinship was probably spurious
Regards
Chris

[Hellrider]

The only other suicide I have found so far among my records, is of the lady who lived on Hanbury-street who hung herself, becuase of the Whitechapel Murders!

Could you maybe elaborate further on that one? Sounds interesting

[Mike Covell]

Press cuttings are here Hellrider,

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=1683